Measuring, managing and mitigating methane emissions

摘要

With natural gas a central part of Europe's clean energy transition, methane emissions from the LNG supply chain are coming under increasing scrutiny. Emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG) some 28 times more potent than CO_2, must be reduced for Europe to realise its ambitions as laid out in the European Green Deal. Working with academia, the LNG industry is now undertaking a first-of-a-kind study to measure methane emissions from LNG carriers. Up to this point, there has been no real data on actual methane emissions from LNG shipping. "You can't manage it until you measure it," declares SIGTTO general manager Andrew Clifton. Speaking at Riviera Maritime Media's LNG Ship/Shore Interface Conference in November, Mr Clifton said: "The credibility of natural gas and its role in decarbonising energy systems hinges on demonstrating transparency and reductions in methane emissions across the global gas supply chain." Under the project, SIGTTO will collaborate with the Sustainable Gas Institute of the Imperial College of London, National Physical Laboratory and Spanish energy company Enagas. Together, they will measure methane emissions on LNG carriers, model the key factors and variations in emissions and determine minimisation targets via the most cost-effective emissions reduction solutions.